Ca de Bou

Ca de Bou

A female Perro de Presa Mallorquin
Other names	Perro de Presa Mallorquin, Majorca Mastiff, Mallorquin Mastiff, Mallorquin Bulldog, Perro Dogo, Presa Canario Mallorquin, Majorca Mastiff, Majorcan Bulldog, Bull Mastiff, Silverback Mastiff
Common nicknames	Silverbacks
Origin	Majorca (Balearic Islands, Spain)
	Original Ca de Bou landrace; Ca de Bestiar, English Bulldog, possibly Perro de Toro
Classification / standards FCI Group 2, Section 2.1 Molossian: Mastiff type #249 standard UKC Guardian Dog standard
Domestic dog (Canis lupus familiaris)

Ca de Bou or Perro de Presa Mallorquin is a medium-to-large sized molossian-type breed of dog, with a strong, powerful, elongated build. The difference between the sexes is in the head, the circumference is greater in dogs than in bitches. The Perro de Presa Mallorquin was almost extinct after World War II, and the few remaining dogs were crossed with Ca de Bestiar, English Bulldog and perhaps Perro de Toro. While extant specimens are all crossbred, the population as a whole retains standardized breed recognition in two kennel clubs, Fédération Cynologique Internationale, and United Kennel Club (using the FCI standard).

The Balearic Islands are an archipelago of four large islands and eleven small islands in the Mediterranean off the east coast of Spain. Its culture and language are Catalan-based. The largest of these islands is Majorca (Mallorca).

In 1232, the King of Aragon expelled the Moors from the Balearics. The Spanish brought with them the Iberian mastiff. Many of today's Spanish breeds, of mastiffs, claim to be this breed; the Spanish Mastiff, the Pyrenean Mastiff, and the old Spanish Alano. Some Ca de Bestiar breeders believe that their dog was the breed that King James I brought over.

The first written mention of the Spanish Alano was in 1350 in King Alfonso XI's Book of Hunting. The Ca de Bestiar's origin on the island is dated as 16th or 17th century. In the French translation they refer to the Iberian Mastiff as an Iberican "perro de presa" (French: chien de combats); in English this is a Catch dog; this name can be given to any fierce breed whether Mastiff or Alano.